We have another reader!

Today was a great day. I went up to the literacy class and Doña Maria Virginia started reading today! It was so funny. She started out without the glasses that we keep telling her she needs. For some reason she doesn't want to use them. So she was trying to read and finally she got frustrated, put on the glasses, and read! I asked if she would like to have a photo of this day. She said she would prefer a video!! (I love that!)

So here are the videos. First without glasses. Then with. And lastly, a short part of Doña Francisca singing her praise to God. I should have done a longer video of that, but I didn't want to be disrespectful of the moment. She said when she is singing she feel closest to God and doesn't feel any of the pain or stress of the world. When she sings, I feel the same.

https://www.facebook.com/mary.fager/videos/10210057436178838/ - trying to read

https://www.facebook.com/mary.fager/videos/10210057424818554/ - reading!

https://www.facebook.com/mary.fager/videos/10210057428658650/ - Doña Francisca singing

The ditch that surrounds the building is even deeper. I had a tough time crossing today. My legs felt weak. Doña Angelica, my 60 year old coworker, had to help me climb up.

New door and windows!

Two readers and a reader-to-be

Doña Angelica's club of 25 kids put windows and a door on the building while I was out sick for two weeks. Now we won't have to haul the dry erase board, table and chairs, up and down the mountain for every class.

Today's class was super small. Rosa worked late. Reyna wasn't at home. Luis and Nohemi were building Nohemi's house.

I am nervous about Nohemi's house. She and her husband are building it too close to the edge of a steep mountain. I'll take photos next week. This week there were people around and I don't like to pull out my phone to take photos when people can see me. That's asking to be robbed.

So now Nohemi, her sister Erika, and Doña Maria Virginia can all read!!! That is three out of seven students. I think that Rosa and Reyna will learn soon, but they sick and missed the last two classes. It will be more difficult for Luis and Doña Francisca.

I just realized I missed Doña Francisca's 50th birthday! I planned to celebrate it last week. She turned 50 on the 20th of June. But since I missed two weeks of class and was sick, I totally forgot until now.

I can't say I am feeling much better. I guess I am better because I am out of bed. I really want to go to the gym. But yesterday my elbow hurt so much I couldn't open the screen door. Today I got into the car after class and the driver asked if I was mad. I wasn't mad, in fact I was happy and excited. But I felt like a knife was stabbing into my back and my knees hurt. Apparently it showed on my face.

I can get along like this. I just have to be more aware of my facial expressions. I took the medicine that was prescribed to me, but it does nothing. Yesterday at the kids' club my coworker Sandra had all of the symptoms I had the first week. I'm worried for her.